RC missionaries join business and community members for Cebu mission in the Philippines

What happens when business, religious and community members join together
to do God’s work? Experiences like the Cebu Mission that
took place from June 12-14, 2013, in the Philippines.

“We had
in total 30 plus missionaries participating,” said Regnum Christi consecrated
woman Gudelia Guerra, including herself and Kathy Sherman, as well
as five ECyD missionaries and 10 missionaries from Manila. Also
joining in were members of the Cebu community, employees from
the Qualfon Foundation of Qualfon Corporation and young
people from the local Catholic parish in the city of
Carmen.

“This mission was made possible thanks to the generosity and
leadership of the consecrated women of Regnum Christi in the
community of Manila,” said Robert Sanchez Mejorada, Chief Mission Officer
from Qualfon. “Members of Qualfon were privileged to participate.”

The missions
began with a visit to the Qualfon call center located
in Cebu city, where participants toured the facilities, met the

people who work there and shared with them their apostolate
and ministry experience. After having dinner at the site, the
group went to the chapel to pray for the people
of the Philippines, the RC missionaries and all Qualfon employees
and their families. The following day the missionaries went to
Carmen, a town two hours travel-time away.

“It was wonderful to
see the employees of Qualfon joining the Manila Mission Youth
Team, as well as with the locals of the town,
to come together and form a team under the help
of the consecrated women who helped organized the event,” said
Ana Paula Sanchez-Mejorada, one of the ECyD missionaries. “Cebu was
an amazing experience that showed me that being disciples is
like being part of a family that cares for one
another. We learned from the people there what virtues like
humility, simplicity, joy and charity look like. I hope missions
to the island of Cebu can continue, and I am
glad I was able to be part of this first
group to go there.”

Sabina Gidaya, and ECyD missionary from
Manila, said going to Cebu was a new experience for
her. “I was a bit scared because I felt like
I was entering a whole new world,” she said. “I
had never done this before, outside of my own city.”

She remembers visiting the community

members door to door and
inviting them to come to catechism and Mass. “The turnout
was amazing! We were able to give out holy cards,
teaching the children about the pictures on them, singing songs,
playing games, also doing a play for them to learn
about creation. It felt great to make these little kids
happier and bring them the experience of God’s love.”

Other ECyD
missionaries also shared their experiences. Elizabeth Engbarth said it was
inspiring to see that people who lacked so much material
wealth had so much spiritual wealth.

“It was an amazing
experience to see that the people of the village had
such authentic joy at our missionary presence,” she said. “I
wasn’t expecting that. To see the innocence in the children
and God’s presence in them was a way God was
also showing His presence to me. Visiting them helped me
appreciate what I have that I so often can take
for granted.”

“At first it was hard because of the
language barrier,” said Maria Fernanda Palacios-Hernandez.“But after a while
I realized that the only language you really need to
know is a language of love. Just giving the kids
a smile, I knew I was already making a change.”

“The
children experience through our presence that the family of the
Church is international,” said Mariana Jimenez. “We came from the
other side of the world, but we are teaching the
same values, same faith, the same Person- Jesus Christ.”

Regina Meade-Cubillas
said her favorite part was being the first to participate
in Mission Youth in Cebu. “We wore our Mission Youth
T-shirts with pride,” she said. “All the missionaries and the
local youth bonded because of our common goal to spread
the Kingdom of Christ. I will continue to pray for
the people I met and their intentions when I go
back home (to Mexico) because they need my prayers, and
because God wanted me to meet them. Everything happens for

Explaining a holy card to the children

a reason and I know that somehow I was the
answer to someone’s prayers, and it’s my responsibility now to
continue praying for all those I encountered there.”